Vacuum cleaning apparatus.



J. P. CLIFTON. VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIUN FILED JAN.17. 1911.

Patenteo'l` Dec. 2, 1913.

citizen of the United States,

" ETED STATES PATE JAMES 1?. CLIFTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE .ASSIGNMENTS, TO WATER POWER VACUUM CLEANER C0., F BUFFALO, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK. i

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

j Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Application filed January 17, 1911. Serial No. 603,060.

To all lwhom/t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES P. CLIFTON, a residing at Bufalo, in the count-y of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning Appaproject-ing rom tion.

ratus, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to improvements in suction cleaning apparatus, and primarily to that class of apparatus in which en air suction is produced by the aid of a fluid jet or stream. l

The principal object of the invention is to secure a continuous air suction of sufficient strength by injecting a stream or jet of fluid under fairly high pressure into the dust laden air conveying element or pipe extending from the cleaning tool.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction which will be hereinafter described and perhaps claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred adaptation of the apparatus is illustrated. Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the improved suction cleaning apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detached view lof the top cap and nozzle. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detached view of the valve nozzle.

In referring to the drawings in detail, like numerals designate like parts.

The apparatus consists of a `suction producing element having a hollow body, and a removable cap for said body carrying a fluid injecting nozzle provided with a needle valve, said nozzle being connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a discharge pipe leading from the suction element, a flexible tube connected at one end to a cleaning tool and at its lo posite end to a tubular coupling the hollow body of the suction apparatus element.

The hollow body 1 of the suction apparatus element in the preferred adaptation shown in the accompanying drawings, is of a c lindrical form. An interiorly screwthreaded portion 2 of smaller diameter depends from the cylindrical body 1, being connected thereto by means of a contracted intermediate portion 3. The top mouth of the hollow body is closed by a removable cap 4 which has an interiorly screw-threaded depending Vflange 5 which screws upon the screw-threaded top margin of the hollow body. A packing 6 is interposed between the cap and hollow body to secure a tight non-leaking joint.

A tubular coupling 7 extends from the side of the tubular body l, to which a ilexible tube 8 is connected by an exterior tubular connection 9, said connection being fitted snugly around the adjacentends of the tubular coupling 7 and the flexible tube 8. The lower portion of the body 1 has tapered walls, 10, and the coupling 7 is extended so as to project in longitudinal alineinent with said tapered walls. By this means the air enters the tubular body directly in a straight line, and is not deflected until it gets to slightly above the contracted portion 3.

A cleaning tool of any well -known form is suitably attached'to the outer end of the flexible tube 8.

,A tubular nozzle is preferably formed separatefrom the cap el, being screwed into a central vertical screw-threaded portion 11 depending from the cap. The advantage of this construction is that the nozzle may be adjusted vertically toward oi' from the contracted lower end of the portion 11. The nozzle consists of an upper tubular portion 12 and a reduced tubular portion 13, which in part is exteriorly screw-threaded to screw within the portion 11. The lower end 14 of the lower tubular portion 13 is made solid and is tapered, reducing in size in a downward direction. The nozzle is vertically adjustable in the portion 11 to vary the size of the annular outlet opening 15 between the circular inner surface of the lower end of the po'rtion 11 and the exterior surface of the lower end 1st of the nozzle. This provides a means for varying the rapidity of flow of fluid through the portion 11 and also for varying the volume of the flow. The lower end of the tubular portion 13 is provided with side openings 16 which form outlets, as shown by arrows in Fig. 1.

An enlarged socket 17 is formed at the upper extremity of the tubular nozzle, and is provided' with a knurled flange constituting a convenient turning means for said nozzle. The socket 17 is interiorly screwthreaded for attachment to a pipe 18 extending from a source of iiuid under pressure.

I A stuffing box 19 is arranged in the-upper toward the latter, 'the cap `being provided extremity ofthe tubular member 'l1 toprewithan axially extended. tubular` member vent leakage of Huid 4around the nozzle terminatingv Within the hollow body adjuwhere it passes through the upper end of the cent the'discharge end in a contracted portubular member. yA discharge pipe 20, tion having a centralv opening, and a hollow 70 which extends to any convenient source of fluid injecting nozzle carried by the tubular discharge, such, for instance, as a sewer, has extension of the cap, said nozzle having its upper end screwed into the lower tubumeans exterior' tothe hollow .body for atlarportion 2 of the suction producing eletachment to a source of fluid under pressure ment, and within the tubular extension of the cap 75 The operation of this improved apparatus being provided with means for controlling is as follows: The Water or other Huid under the flow of liquid through the open terminal 'pressure being turned on, a continuous jet or portion of the said hollow extension within stream is projected vertically downward the body. through the lower portion of the tubular 2. In an apparatus of the class described, body into the discharge pipe, and creates a a suction producing element provided with a partialY .vacuum in the said tubular body, hollow body having a removable cap at one reducingthe suction in the flexible tube sufend andprovided at the other end with a ficient to draw the dirt, dustor other i'mcontracted discharge opening, said hollow purities from the articles to be cleaned, body having a side neck openin thereinto through the openings in the cleaning tool. between the cap and the contracte discharge The air containing the impurities passes opening and directed toward the latter, said from the flexible tube through the suction neck being shaped to receive a flexible tube, producing element downward, out through means at the discharge end of the hollow the discharge pipe to any convenient source body for connecting a discharge pipe thereof discharge. The volume of the jet or to, a fluid; injecting nozzle carried by and stream may be regulated to lcorrespond with extending adjustablj7 through the cap in line the strength 0f the pressure of the fluid or with the .discharge opening, and "means on other liquid by adjusting the valve needle the nozzlel exterior to the cap fo'r coupling in the proper direction. the nozzle to a source of fluid under pressure. 95 One `of the greatest difficulties With 3. In an apparatus of the class described, vacuum apparatus used for cleaning carpets a suction producing element having a hollow and other fabrics has been to regulate the; body and a removable cap and provided With strength of the vacuum to the area of the a contracted discharge opening at the end suction opening in the tool, and thus provide remote from the cap,\said body having a 10b on one hand suiiicient suction to properly tubular neckextending fromone side thereclean the carpet or other fabric and avoid of Vand opening into the body between the on the other hand the creation of a sutlicap and contracted discharge end and diciently strong suction to pullout the nap ora rected toward the discharge end at an angle portion of the material and-.thereby injure to the longitudinal center line of the hollow or destroy the carpet or other fabric. One body, a fluid injecting nozzle carried by the of the great advantages of ap licants incap and adjustable therethrough, said nozzle vention is that this serious diidiulty is enbeing provided with 'a needle valve at one tirely overcome by his improved structure. end and at the other end exterior to the cap This is accomplished by aid of the adjustwith means for connecting the nozzle to a able nozzle which regulates the volume of source of fluid under pressure, a discharge water-'flow to correspond to the rapidity of pipe connected to the dischargeend of the pressure of the same and through it reguhollow body, and a flexible tube connected to lates Ithe amount of strength of the air lthe side neck. suction. 4. In an apparatus of the class described, 115

The main advanta es of this improved a suction producing element having a hollow apparatus are that it 1s absolutely non-clogbody provided with an outlet at one end and ging, that itis extremely simple, cheap and atthe side. provided with a tubular coupling durable in construction and certain and sure or neck, a removable cap for the end of the 1n cperat1on, and that it dispenses with, and .body remote from the discharge end, said 12o entirely eliminates the use of any dust colcap having a depending axially extended lecting element or suction pump. and internally screw-threaded portion termi- I claim:- natinggdjacent the .discharge end of the 1. In an apparatus of the class described, body and'there rovided Withan axial opena suctibnproducing element having a holing formed with) a-valve seat, a hollow'luid` 125 lowonc-piece body provided at one end with injecting nozzle having screw threads adapt-` a removable cap and at the other end With a ed to the internally threaded part of the dedischarge opening, said hollow body being pending portion of the cap and terminating also provided with a tubular side inlet adat one end in a tapered valve adapted to the jacent the discharge opening and directed valve vseat and also provided Witlr sideout- 13a lets adjacent the valve, the nozzle being provided at the end remote from the valve with means for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, and a flexible tube connected to the tubular coupling or neck at the side of the body.

5. In a device of the class'described, a suction producing element having a hollow body with a contracted intermediate portion and a cylindrical lower portion depending from the contracted intermediate portion and also provided with a side inlet adjacent to and above the'contracted intermediate portion, a removable top cap fitted on the hollow body and havin a tubular depending interiorly screw threa ed portion terminat ing adjacent to and above the contracted portion of the hollow body and there provided with an axial opening, and a tubular nozzle in part exteriorly screw threaded and fitted within the tubular depending portion, said tubular nozzle having side outlets.

6. In a device of the class described, a suction producing element having a hollow body with a contracted intermediate portion and a cylindrical lower portion depending from the contracted intermediate po-rtion and also rovided with a side inlet adjacent to and a ove the contracted intermediate portio-n, a removable top cap fitted on the hollowbody and having a tubular depending interiorly screw-threaded portion terminat ing adjacent to and above the contracted portion of the hollow body and there provided with an axial opening, and a tubular nozzle in part exteriorly screw-threaded and fitted within the tubular depending portion, said tubular nozzle having side outlets, and a solidk lower end adapted to the open end of the depending tubular portion of the removable cap.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a suction producing element havin a hollow body and a cap therefor provide with an extended support, and a longitudinally adjustable fluid injecting nozzle carried by the support and connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said nozzle terminating in a valve needle within the support, the needle at the end `of the nozzle and the support being constructed to coact to control the flow of fluid throughv the nozzle, and a discharge pipe leading from the suction producing element.

8. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow body having a contracted intermediate portion and a cylindrical lower portion depending therefrom, a top cap on the hollow body havin a tubular depending interiorly screw-threa ed portion terminating adjacent the contracted portion of the hollow body in line therewith and rovided with an axial passage therethroug and a tubular nozzle in part exteriorly screw threaded and fitted within the tubular depending portion, said tubular nozzle having side outlets and a solid lower end within the tubular de ending portion and exterior to the hollow ody being provided with means for connection to a source of .fluid under pressure and with means whereby it may be turned about its longitudinal axis for longitudinal adjustment.

JAMES P. CLIFTON.

Witnesses:

A. J. SANos'rnn, FRED WOLF.

Copies `of thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner o! hunts,

Washington, D. C. 

